Post navigation

Tips on Dealing with “Spring Skin”

The thought of Spring can leave some less fortunate individuals with a dreaded promise of an ensuing runny nose; red, puffy eyes and itchy, sensitive skin.

In Spring, the skin is exposed to invisible airborne allergens, such as pollen, which in some individuals can lead to the release of histamine, a neurotransmitter that dilates blood vessels and leads to inflammation. Higher levels of histamine can lead to the skin being more reactive and can even trigger eczema and allergies. The most readily effected areas for this to occur on the face are on the cheek and the skin surrounding the eye.

Due to climate change and the weather we’ve been experiencing lately, experts are predicting a worse-than-average spring allergy season and expect the situation to escalate as time goes on. The reason being that concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have risen, which increases the release of allergen levels such as pollen and types of fungal growth, such as mold, and the spores they release.

Here are a few handy tips that we can provide as part of a prevention plan:

Reduce Stress Levels
Stress has been found to actually make your response to allergens worse. A short 15-minute back massage can actually be an anti-inflammatory skin treatment.

Change Up Your Routine
If you tend to be someone who suffers from seasonal allergies or experiences some of the symptoms of “Spring Skin” then you may want to consider a Spring skin care program that can actively target skin inflammation, puffiness and irritation while repairing the barrier function of the skin.

Products to look for in your “Spring Skin Care” program should be those proven to have natural anti-irritant and anti-redness properties. The delicate eye area is often the first to show signs of irritation, so try using a lightweight, gel-based eye cream formulated to limit inflammatory mediators, thereby significantly reducing eye puffiness, redness and attendant itchiness.

Reduce Your Alcohol Consumption
Many may not be aware that there is naturally occurring histamine in alcohol, which is made during the fermentation process. Wine, beer and champagne contain the highest concentration of histamine, which could exacerbate your symptoms.

Eat Right
Avoiding certain foods and adding more of others can affect your likelihood of developing seasonal allergies, as well as the severity of your symptoms.

German researchers from the University of Bonn published an article in 2007 in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” (AJCN) that identified high-histamine foods. Common foods high in histamines include beer, tuna, mayonnaise, vinegar, wine, pickles, olives, and yogurt, to name a few.

According to the Michigan Allergy, Sinus and Asthma Specialists (MASAS), fermented, aged and processed meats like bacon, hot dogs, pepperoni, luncheon meats and cheeses are also high in histamines – hard to avoid, buy try during this critical part of the year.

It would be always be advisable to consult and allergist and/or nutritionist to get some expert advice in regards to what food to avoid and include in their diet.